The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-04
THE MEANEsr OF THE LOT.
Central Office Detective Enlightens a
Reporter Upon the Billiard Sharper.
New York Mail and Express

New York Mail and Express.
Those are nice looking young gentle
men, aren't they?" remarked a we'll
known police headquarters officer to a
Mail and Express reporter, few days
ago, indicating a half dozen indi-
vid1als in fashionable attire loung-
ing on the antique sofas which are supplied
for the comfort of guests in an uptown
billiard parlor. They were all in evening
dress. There was nothing loud or vulgar
in their appearance or action, but q
certain indescribable hard look was
traced on their countelances by the
detective. NOW any one not acquainted
with them might jump at the conclu-
sion that they were young men about
town with plenty of money, either earned
on Change or supplied by generous faith
ers. Nothing of the kind. They are about
towners to marked degree. They are al
ways about towr, that is just the trouble,
and meaner set of scoundrels could not
be found. They have no rich parents or
other relatives, end no visible means of
support, and work is entirely foreign to
their code.
'Then what do they do for an existence?
They are contemplate sharpers, The
worst sneak thief in the city is a gentle
man compared with that CLIQUE, but they
adopt such low-lived methods that the po-
lice are powerless to crafty their inclina-
ton and lock them up. In every
first-class hotel, billiard parlor or
public place these very young men
may be seen at some hour of the
day or night, always dressy and refined,
but always on the alert for victims. This
is the way they work: They sit around as
they are doing now, watching those gentle
men play billiards. Pretty soon some of
the players will drop out, and then one of
that set will be requested by the scorer to
ts ke cue. OF course the scorer or an at
tendant stands in with them. By
of the establishment he has learned
their ways, and he has no trouble in bring
ing the two together for q friendly game.
One, OF course, is the prospective victim,
and the other is the sneak. They play a
couple of games, and the gentleman is
allowed TO win. The sneak has ''sized up
his game before. To make the game inter-
esting be suggests small wager. He
wins by a few points. By careful con-
duct he aYerts suspicion, appears to be
8 gentleman, and invariably comes out
S. or SO ahead. He never risks much,
no matter how sure he is of winning,
for that would give the snap away. a
young man about town is always in search
of fun and excitement, and the sharper is
aItful enough to play this same game night
after night in the same place, and often
works his way into respectable society by
his winning ways. He never bets at
the races, for they are uncertain. Gam
bling is not in his line unless he has a
'sinch,' as he calls a sure thing. Learn
ing first just how well his victim can
play, he has him in his clutches. There
are a number of business men, brokers,
statesmen, book-keepers and others who are
often glad to find some one to cross cues
with. even If he be a stranger. The rest
of the programme is attended to by the &C.
commodating young rascal who plays
simply to oblige his neW-found acquaint.
ance. 1t may seem strange, but it is true.
"They loose a few dollars occasionally,
just to avert suspicion, but before going TO
bed every night or morning they balance
accounts and find themse ahead. No
respectable gambling house would allow
them indoors, and the proprietor OF this
parlor would throw them down stairs
if he could only get cause.
By their wits they manage to visit
some watering place in the summer, and
everything they do is perfectly legitimate
in the eyes of the law. The saw. dust
swindle is an honorable calling, and as for
the confidence game, why, that is a pro-
fession 10 be proud of when compared with
this mean trickery."